Moving to Papua New Guinea from Sweden

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Sweden to Papua New Guinea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Sweden to Papua New Guinea, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sweden to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
PG
14.9

Sweden performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SE
$7,770
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SE
71.5
PG
0.6

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SE
8.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
PG
0.5t

Sweden generally does better on environment, though Papua New Guinea leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.4
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
PG
0.1%

Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
7.6%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$64,200
PG
$4,200

Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SE
82.7 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.3
PG
33.6

Sweden performs better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Data: Skatteverket, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Stockholm Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Stockholm Port Moresby
Jan 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden and Papua New Guinea. To live, work, or study long-term in Papua New Guinea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Papua New Guinea's immigration authority.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sweden passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter Sweden.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Papua New Guinea?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Papua New Guinea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

Sweden performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Sweden?

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

What's the weather like in Papua New Guinea compared to Sweden?

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.

What language do they speak in Papua New Guinea?

The official languages in Papua New Guinea are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.

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At a Glance

SE PG
Population 10,483,647 9,593,498
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Swedish English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +46 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 000